Well tubing catcher



Nov. l, 1938. s. A. GUIBERSON, 3D

WELL TUBING CATCHER Filed July 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 1, 1938. s. A. GUIBERSONQSD 2,135,253

WELL TUBING CATCHER Filed July 8 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE WELL TUBING GAT'CI-IER Samuel Allen Guiberson, III, Dallas, Tex., as-

signor to The Guiberson Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application July 8,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well tubing catchers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved tubing catcher which is constructed so as to be readily assembled or dismantled for purposes of replacement of parts, or for any other reason.

An important object of the invention is to provide a tubing catcher having an improved link construction, whereby the usual weight may be readily attached to or detached from the movable l gripping slips of the catcher, said construction being exceptionally cheap and simple in manufacture and providing a more rigid and stronger connection between the parts.

A further object of the invention i's to provide an improved link for connecting the weight and gripping slips of a tubing catcher, said link comprising an elongated shank having right angular cross arms at each end, said arms being rotatably confined in slots'in said slip and weight, whereby the link is pivotally connected to the parts and the load on the link is carried by the cross, which provides a stronger structure than the usual pivot pin which connects the link to the slip and weight.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention Will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of a tubing catcher having links c onstructed in accordance with the invention, incorporated therein,

Figure 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, taken at right angles to Figure 1 and showing only the upper portion of the tubing catcher,

Figure 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 4a is a transverse, sectional detailtaken on the line A--A of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the upper portion of a tubing catcher showing another form of the invention,

Figure 6 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View, taken on the line 'I-l of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the numeral III designates ay 1935, Serial No. 30,291

(Cl. 10S-219) tubular mandrel which forms the main support of the tubing catcher. At the upper end ofthe mandrel, a slip head II is mounted. 'Ihis head is formed with three inclined guide faces I2 which are spaced equally around the mandrel.v The lower end of the head is provided with an annular outwardly extending collar I3 which is preferably made integral therewith.

Each guide face has a central dovetail rib I4 which extends through the vertical length .of said face, and this rib engages a complementary dovetail groove in the rear side of a gripping slip I 6, whereby the slip is slidable vertically on the face. It is vpointed out that each face is inclined inwardly toward its lower end, whereby when the slip is at the lower end of said face,it is retracted from the inner wall of the casing A. When vthe slips are at the upper end of the inclined faces, the slips have moved outwardly laterally so that the gripping Vteeth of said slipsare engaging `the casing wall to prevent downward movement of the catcher. All of the above parts are of the usual construction and are, therefore, subject to variation.

A weight I'I is sli-dably mounted on the mandrel I0 below the annular collar I3 and is provided with a counterbore I8. The counterbore extends from the lower end of the weight and terminates near the upperend thereof, whereby an internal annular shoulder I9 is formed within the weight near the upper end thereof. A coiled spring 20 surrounds the mandrel and it is disposed within the counterbore, being confined between the shoulder I9 and a coupling collar 2| at the lower end of the mandrel. The collar is internally threaded, whereby the tubing B may be connected to thev mandrel. The upper end of the head II is provided with an externally threaded nipple I I so that the tubing B may be connected to the upper end of the tubing catcher. Thus, it will be seen that the device may be readily connected into the tubing.

The usual practice has been vto connect the upper end of the weight I'I with the lower end of the slips I6 by links which are pivoted to said weight and slips on pivot pins. This necessitates forming ears on the members and since the operation of the slips is. controlled by the inertia of the weight, it is obvious that the pivot pins must carry the load. It has been found that due to the fact the ears formed on the parts must be comparatively small, the size of the pivot pins is limited. Therefore, the pins constantly break and must'be replaced. Further, cost of manufacture is comparatively high due to the fact the groove 21.

diameter and width of the cross arm ears for carrying the pivot pins must be made integral with the weight and slips. Also, the assembling and dismantling is rather cumbersome.

To overcome the above diiliculties and to provide a more simple and stronger link construction, a link 22 is employed for connecting each slip to the weight. The link comprises an elongated shank 23 which has a cross arm 24 at its upper end anda similar cross arm V25 at its lower end. The arms are disposed at right angles to the vertical axisof the shank. The cross arms are preferably cylindrical, but the shank may be any shape.

The under side of each'slip is formed with a longitudinal groove 26 extending throughout its length (Fig. 3); A transverse groove 21 Vwhich is located at the center of the slip is of the same depth as the groove 26 and crosses the same at substantialy a right angle, as is clearly shown in Figure 3. The grooves are substantially the 24 and shank 23 of each link.

InV pivotally fastening the upper end ofeach link to its slip, the cross arm thereof is entered -into the longitudinal groove 26 and is located so that the shank 23 is alined with the transverse After the cross arm 24 is positioned in this way, a pair of retaining bars 28 are inserted in the groove 26 beneath the cross arm 24 ori-.each side of the shank 23. The bars are welded, or otherwise suitably secured in position and it is obvious that'said bars will prevent downward displacement of the link. vSince the shankv 23 is disposed in alinement with the transverse groove 2l, said shank may be swung in said groove, and

thus, Aa pivotal connection between the upper end of the link and slip is had.

Each link extends downwardly fromv the-bottom of its slip vIt through a slot I3 in the annular collar I3. For rpivotally securing the lower crossarm 25 ofthe link to the weight l1, the

.upper end of said weight is provided with an annular recess or groove 29 which extends out- Wardly from the bore of said weight. This groove is'located slightly below the upper end of the weight as clearly shown in Figure l, whereby the top 30 of the weight covers the top of the groove.

VThis. top 30 has a trio of radial slots 3| cut therein (Fig. 4), which are located in vertical alinement with the shank 23 of each link. The lower cross arm 25 of each link 22 is entered into the annular groove 29, the shank 23 enterthe cross arms 25 of saidlinks.

ing the radial slot 3l. v inserted in the inner end of the groove to close said groove and prevent inner displacement of The springiness of the ring causes the same to snugly engage the mandrel l (Fig. r4), whereby said ring remains positioned at the inner end of thegroove 29. It is obvious that the cross arm 25 is confined within the groove, while the shank 23 of each link, being Vlocated within the slot 3l may swing in the slot radially Vof the weight, thereby providing a pivotal connection between the lower Vend of Y the link and Weight. v

A snap ring 32 Vis thenVY radial direction into gripping engagement with the well casing A, to arrest further downward movement of the tubing. The cross arms of the links carry the entire load 0f both slips and weight andthus increased contact karea is pro- Y 25 is inserted in the groove 29 and the'ring 32 located before the weight is slid onto the mandrel. The weight is then positioned on the mandrel and the upper cross arm'attached thereto. The dismantling may be readily 4accomplished by merely removing the welded bars 28.

In Figures to 7, I have shown another form of the invention. In this form, the lower cross arm 2 5 is fastened to the weight l1 in the same way except that the snap ring 32is eliminated. The upper cross .arm 24 is inserted in an annular groove 40 cut in each slip near its lower end. The shank 23 enters a radial slot 4I whereby the shank may swing radially of the mandrel I0. By

observing Figure 6, it will be seen that the connection thus made is similar to the fastening of the lower cross "to the weight. In this form the mandrel Hl preventsdisplacement of the` lower cross arm of each link from its groove while the cylindrical face on which each slip Arides prevents the displacement of the upperY 1. A tubing catcher including, a support, grip- I ping slips mounted on the support and arranged Y to beexpanded radially to grip the well casing, a weight slidably mounted on the support, and a link forconnecting each slip with theweight and having cross arms at its upper and lower ends, the lower end of each slip having a groove for receiving the upper cross arm of the link andthe upper end of the weight being provided with an annular groove for receiving the lower cross arm, whereby the slips are connected to said weight.

2.A tubing catcher including, a support, grippingslips mounted on the support and arranged to be expanded radially togrip the well casing, a weight slidably mounted on the supportVa link for connecting each slip with the weight and having cross arms at its upper and lower ends, the bottom of each slip having a longitudinal groove therein and also having a central transverse groove, whereby the upper cross arm may be inserted in the longitudinal groove with the shank of the linkv in alinement with the transverse groove, and retainingy bars Vsecured in the longitudinal groove beneath the crossfarm toV prevent displacement thereof from the groove, said weight having an annularV groove formed in itsrk upper end for receiving the lower cross arm of the link Y .and also having radial slots formed in its `top through which the shank of the link extends.

3. A tubing catcher including, a support, gripping slips mounted on the support and arranged to be expanded radially to grip the well casing, a

weight slidably mounted on thesupmrt, a link for connecting each slip with the weight and having cross-arms at its upper and lower ends, the bottom of'eachV slip having a longitudinal groove therein and also having a central transverse groove, whereby the upper cross arm lmay be inserted in the longitudinal groove with the shank of the link in alinementv with the transverse groove, retaining bars` secured in the longitudinal groove beneath the cross arm toV prevent displacement thereof from the groove, said weight having an annular groove formed in its upper end for receiving the lower cross arm of the link and also having radial slots formed in its top through which the shank of the link extends, and a retaining ring in the inner end of the groove in the weight for preventing displacement of the lower cross arm therefrom.

4. A tubing catcher including, a support, gripping slips mounted on the support and arranged to be expanded radially to grip the well casing, a weight slidably mounted on the support, a link for connecting each slip with the weight and having cross arms at its upper and lower ends, the bottom of each slip having a longitudinal groove therein and also having a central transverse groove, whereby the upper cross arm may be inserted in the longitudinal groove with the shank of the link in alinement with the transverse groove, and retaining bars secured in the longitudinal groove beneath the cross arm to prevent displacement thereof from the groove, said weight having an annular groove formed in its upper4 end for receiving the lower cross arm of the link and also having radial slots formed 1n its top through which the shank of the link extends, said radial slots being in direct vertical alinement with the transverse grooves in the bottom of the slips, whereby the link is in a vertical plane when connecting the parts.

5. A tubing catcher including, a support, gripping slips mounted on the support and arranged to be expanded radially to grip the well casing, a weight slidably mounted on the support, a link for connecting each slip with the weight and having cross arms at its upper and lower ends, the bottom of each slip having a longitudinal groove therein and also having a central transverse groove, whereby the upper cross arm may be inserted in the longitudinal groove with the shank of the link in alinement with the transverse groove, retaining bars secured in the longitudinal groove beneath the cross arm to prevent displacement thereof from the groove, said weight having an annular groove formed in its upper end for receiving the lower cross arm of the link and also having radial slots formed in its top through which the shank of the link extends, said radial slots being in direct vertical alinement with the transverse grooves in the bottom of the slips, whereby the link is in a vertical plane when connecting the parts, and a resilient retaining ring in the inner end of the groove in the weight for preventing displacement of the lower cross arm therefrom.

6. A tubing catcher including, a tubular mandrel, gripping slips slidable on the mandrel and having their inner faces engaging the outer face of the mandrel and arranged to expand radially when slid, a Weight slidably mounted on the mandrel below the slips, and a link for connecting each slip to the weight and comprising a shank having laterally projecting cross arms at its upper and lower ends, said arms being arranged to be pivotally fastened to each slip and weight to make the connection.

7. A tubing catcher including, a tubular mandrel, gripping slips slidable on the mandrel and having their inner faces engaging the outer face of the mandrel and arranged to expand radially when slid, a weight slidably mounted on the mandrel below the slips, and a link for connecting each slip to the weight and comprising a shank having cross arms at its upper and lower ends, each slip having a longitudinal groove in its rear wall for receiving the upper cross arm and having a central radial slot communicating with said groove through which the shank extends, where-V by the cross arms cannot be displaced downwardly and the shank may undergo a lateral swinging movement in the radial slot, said weight having an annular groove near its upper end for receiving the lower cross arm and also having a radial slot in its top through which the shank of the links extend, whereby the lower cross arms of each cannot be displaced upwardly and the shank thereof may undergo a lateral swinging movement in its radial slot, the mandrel forming a closure for the annular'grooves in the slips and Weight to prevent inward displacement of the cross arms.

8. As a sub-combination in a tubing catcher` slips, a weight below said slips, a link for connecting the slips with the weight including an elongated shank, integral cross arms circular in cross-section at the ends of the shank extending laterally therefrom, said arms being disposed at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the shank and projecting into grooves in the slips and weight respectively and means to retain said cross arms in said grooves.

SAMUEL ALLEN GUIBERSON, III. 

